Education, Health and Care Assistant

Woodlands School, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5ES

10 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  3 September 2025

• Closing date

  30 June 2025 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  20 June 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
  • Learning support or cover supervisor
  • Other support roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Part time: 28.75 hours per week, Mon – Fri 9:00am to 3:15pm 39 weeks per year
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £24,790 FTE
• Actual salary: Actual Salary £16,494
• Pay scale: Scale C

What skills and experience we're looking for

Every pupil at Woodlands has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This describes their SpecialEducation Needs (SEN) and the help they will get to meet them. An EHCP also includes any health and careprovision that is needed. Traditionally we have recruited Teaching Assistants (TAs) to support our pupils butwe have realised that the variety and scope of the role has changed to ensure the requirements of theirEHCP’s are met.We wanted to reflect this change in our workforce and future recruitment by renaming our TeachingAssistant role to Education, Health and Care Assistant, a move that was welcomed by our current staff. Wehave broken down the different duties of the role under the same headings, and in the Job Description youwill see the variety of tasks that an EHCA may undertake. This is a challenging job that can lead to future roles in a variety of sectors. Some of our EHCA’s go on towork in mainstream schools, the NHS or the care sector; many stay with us until retirement. If you want tofind out more information about the work of an EHCA then please arrange to come in and see us.

Full job description https://www.woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk/news/vacancies-1-2

What the school offers its staff

At Woodlands we strongly believe that education, coupled with high quality support, leads to people being able to take control of their own lives and destinies.

We are expanding foundation school. From September we will be offering education for 100 children between the ages of 2 and 19 years with complex physical and sensory difficulties. Many pupils also have medical needs and other difficulties that may affect their learning.

We provide a range of opportunities for very young children and their parents or carers to come into the school, use the facilities and share their experiences with other people. We offer an inclusive service to our families, providing support for more than a child’s learning and development. We guide families through various support assessment processes.

Our assessment nursery is opening in September 2025 for children from the age of two, to attend sessions to develop their skills, some in readiness for inclusion and possible mainstream education. Our teaching provision is dynamic and all pupils have individual learning programmes which is based upon their Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Our commitment to having high expectations for every child, an enabling curriculum and a strong emphasis on independence and self-actualisation, ensures our pupils leave school not only with a range of qualifications but also the skills for a fulfilling life. A similar approach is taken for staff, we have a responsive training programme which demonstrates our commitment to developing staff skills supporting pupils’ experiences at school.

Commitment to safeguarding

Woodlands school is committed to safeguarding and promoting equality of opportunity.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Applying for the job

Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to hr@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk

CVs are not accepted.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

EHCA Recruitment Pack - April 2025.pdf - 386 KB (opens in new tab)

New Application Form - April 2025.docx - 160 KB (opens in new tab)

About Woodlands School

• School type: Special school, ages 2 to 19
• School size: 85 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Woodlands School website
• Email address: hr@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/woodlands-school-plymouth

Woodlands School is based in Plymouth, in the South West of England. Named Britain’s Ocean City, we are close to the sea and moors. With almost ten miles of coastline which is home to a host of marinas, docklands and seaside promenades, Plymouth is a great coastal location. Ideal for those that love the outdoors but also wish to live or be near to an urban area.
Woodlands is an inspiring place to work. At present there are 87 pupils on roll, aged 2 to 19. These young people have a range of complex needs, both physical and with their learning. Over the years we have realised that it takes versatile people to support our pupils, as no two days are ever the same. Our specially developed curriculums adapt to the changing needs of our young people and this, along with their health and care needs, provides the focus of the day.

School location

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